Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Weekly News Blog January 25, 2010: Censorship, killing our spirits left and right

In class I am handing out a packet of news articles regarding the Chinese goverment censorship of both the internet and citizens' text messages and emails. Recently this has been in the news because Google has suspected and accused the Chinese government of hacking into the Google system and using searches done on the internet to identify potential anti-government citizens. The Chinese government is communist, and unlike the U.S., does not have a Bill of Rights that protects the press and freedom of speech.

After reading and annotating your articles, please write a response regarding how "censorship", or the restriction of free speech, affects the lives and freedom of citizens. Get fired up....this is a huge issue!!!!

35 comments:

  1. It's a huge issue, the censorship gave citizen no freedom, and restriction on information publish online the citizen wouldn't know the truth, they just obtain the news that what government want them to heard. Especially this action was more like brain wash, they restrict internet access so chinese government could built nationlism when the kid was still young, so censorship had no human right.

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  2. The restriction of the media and internet in China is a major form of oppression in which peronsal liberties are being infringed upon. Howw does an internet site threath the republic of china? How can a personlaized text message me deemed unhealthy, ecpescially when it should it is a personal statement form one inidvidual to another. China's current restrictions cross boundaries form communism to supreme tyranny. In response to the sensory that Chinese officials impose on Google, google should drop China as a client and refused service there., If Chinese officials dislike the services provided by Google Inc. then they should terminate their service. Google, a private and liberal American corporation should not be subjected to the communisitic laws of China, for the simple reasons that it is a service that the CHinese officials want, if the chinese officials want such restrcition they should manage it or pay extra. In conclusion, sensory of the web and on cellular phones is a violation of personal luiberties, however just because the people of the country are subjected to it, does not give the counrty the right to demands such allegiance od international business.

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  3. What the prompt asks is how it affects the lives of citizens. In general, this can actually put everyone's life at risk because spam mail can also occur. If some random doctor recieved spam mail with keywords that are designated in the search, he'll be arrested. In general, it's unfair. As for the search in China for people trying to overthrow the government, it wouldn't severely affect Chinese citizens because under their Socialist Constitution, they are already used to lack of privacy compared to America's system, and used to power and rights being controlled by their executives and legislators.

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  4. The Chinese people has the right thing to kill the citizens around the world. It takes time to do something good or bad because they had to stay around the building. It happen in the movie and the article. Some people would not overthrow the government. They could take more responsible from their own rights.

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  5. After read the issue about “censorship” in China it is unreasonable for the citizens of China to not have a mind of their own. The dangerous part of not having a voice in one’s own country is that the government turns corrupt. The Chinese government may want to protect its people from attacks of outsiders but not to the extreme of hacking private web accounts. This occurred to a television reporter in Beijing. “E-mail messages in the reporter’s account were being forwarded to an e-mail address that the reporter did not recognize.” The restriction of freedom of speech causes many citizens to be monitored and if the government disapproves your statement or thought one’s life can be on the line. The countries under communist government suppress their people from speaking their thoughts and I believe it is not fair.

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  6. Google has every right to try and put a stop to censorship as far as the internet search engine. Censorship limits learning. When the government choses what it's citizens are to read, write, and say, it takes away not only from individuality but the right to think on one's own as a person. Google has the right to deny services to the Chinese government because the very purpose of Google is to make all sorts of information accessible to everyone and censorship is taking away from that purpose.

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  7. The restriction of the media is a very sad comment and sad truth to hear because sometimes we just think of us. In some ways when we have freedom we forget about how other countries are living and we just think of us. Anyways,the restriction of free speech affects the lives and the freedom of citizens in the way that trhey just know what is going on in their country ans if they know something about another country they just hear alittle bit. They don't have the freedom to decide whether they wnat to know more about it or not. The governmemnt or ruler chooses what they have to hear, and see. I believe they are not having a good life in that country becausde they have to hear/listen what the government wants not what they would like to hear. I belive some of them are just ok with it because tyhey have lived their lives like that, ruled by someone and only knowing what is chosen by govt. not by themselves.

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  8. The restriction of free speech affects the lives and freedom of citizens because it not only takes away our chance to learn but our right to freedom. In the article "China to scan Text Messages to Spot 'Unhealthy Content'" it says "text messages would automatically be scanned for 'key words' provided by police." Since when can we not use words in our text that might sound "threatening"? This is such a idiotic issue to talk about when there are a lot more things going on and need helping. Taking away the right for a person to be able to right something, which gives them a voice in what they believe, is very wrong. This basically is a step closer to brain washing and making the chinese a slave to what the government wants. This is not right and should not be even thought of. We all have the right to do what we want if they like it or not!

    -Love, Ash.

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  9. The issue about censorship of Google in china had a negative impact as in china’s residents, Google’s company and all around the world as the result that the government will scanned every message from email and phone. So the residents don’t will have privacy in their calls and messages because the government will have the control of the internet and other forms of communication. Obviously that Chinese government is violating the human rights in their society for the restriction of internet, as said Sun Li a businesswoman “This is against the law. You can block web sites for pornography or violence, but texts are from person to person. It has nothing to do with the public.” We see that the government tries to protect their people for unhealthy content in internet and phone, but they are going to the extreme because they almost have control in their population’s life. If the society doesn’t do anything about it, the government will do anything with them and their life.

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  10. I think that this issue in China is very serious because is affecting peoples' life. This country is comunist and can not do whatever they want. Now the government is taking away the little bit of rights that Chinese have. It is not fair for Chinese people because everyone has rights and they must we protected. Chinese don't have a lot of rights as us but someone has to do something.The goverment is only giving excuses to restrain chinese rights.

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  11. In general, all people righteously deserve to have freedom to do as they please. Censorship is just a way to mute a valuable right that people are entitled to. In regards to China, one would have to contemplate that they are a communist government. The U.S. government cannot be conferred with the one of China. The notions of the people in China wouldnt make a difference. It’s easily argued on the reasons why the Chinese government should but in all how can that be done?

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  12. i think the issue is effect people and the nation and now the government take little bit the rights in china which also effect united state because now china disagree with google company and i think the us government should give them rights but not taking over the us. the nation of the people wouldnt make difference.the goverenment make reason to restrain china rights. cenorship is just the way stop the valuable the rights that people entitled to.

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  13. The lack of free speech is like taking away someone's use of rhetorical devices. When an author cannot use rhetorical devices he has not form of being unique in persuadng his audience. If person righ to free speech is taken away then that takes the voice away from a person that should be able to express themselves.In the article "China to scan Text Messages to Spot 'Unhealthy Content'" it says "text messages would automatically be scanned for 'key words' provided by police." This is an issue that has the worst importance in the world. Why is China focusing on minor situatons like these anyways. China is already a communist community so they basically already have no rights. They should focus on somehting more interesting like welfare, the economy, or unemployment. By the chinese taking away their internet abilities they are basically controling their lives because pople can only say and do what the government wants. This is truly unfair and unconstitutional. I know they dont follow The United States rules but soon china will fall due to the rights that they are taking from the poeople.

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  14. In china the citizens has no right because the government thing that they are to advance for them so they take out all use of ways to give/reicive a message to anyone if you do they well find you and take you to jail cause its aganist the law in china.

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  15. i belive that all the counrtys should united because they are the only answer to stop golbe warmering and if we dont do something about it then we will die a painful death and no one will surive. but as we unite we will find a soulation. to golbe warming. for the reason i belive that no conurty should be opposed to this because it affects all of us.

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  16. I believe that citizens should have the right for freedom of speech and censorship should have take place of their lives. This is because people should be able to do and express themselves in the way that they want. They should have the voice that God has given them to show their perspective. People in China shouldn’t have any censorship because that takes a big part of people’s lives. Censorship of Google should be removed and the people from China should have the chance to know about their government and things that are going on in their country. I also believe that the people should have at least their emails and text messages private because no one enjoys having their business out there for any one know about it. China shouldn’t have the right to be able to hack America either because if they don’t ant anything to do with other countries then they shouldn’t be in no other countries business as well.

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  17. many of this hackers are violating what is call privercy the chinies goverment shouldn not be doing this to other american impretty shore that they wouild a problem if they find out that some one accross the world is reading there messages

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  18. i read this articles, i am very suproise, unbelievable, the googls is great companies, It has perfect management system, but Chinese government will also have a management system, somepeople don't understand internal affairs of this country, after all, i live and leare in the China so many year, Although we could not discuss topics,becuase China have 5000 year of history, that is coutry culture, the chiese people have freedon of speech, but Speak not all aspects of content, The Chinese government is communist, and unlike the U.S., does not have a Bill of Rights that protects the press and freedom of speech, so i don't think so.

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  19. The author purpose is to persuade others to believe in the fact that cencorship does affect chinese people becasue text message "would be automatically scan. "china Mobile, one of the nation's largest cellular providers, reported that text messages would automatically be scanned for "key words" provided by the police." it will also affect Gmail user because "all message would be forward to unfamiliar addresses."

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  20. After read of Article about “censorship” that this is something that affect of citizens because this show that the people don"t have most rigth of freedom in china. Based in the article chinese is on country that have a goverment very communist the dont have Rights that protects the press and freedom of speech. I think one way that should be help this people would be the Censorship of Google should be removed and the people can have more opportunity to know more about their goverment and can have the freedom and obtain of some right of other countries should be has.

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  21. After reading the articles about China's censorship, I have pondered upon the rights people should be able to have in China. I understand China's government in communist, and I am a citizen of the United States which is a democratic country, so we have differrnt views. The US makes it possible for its residents to have freedoms whereas China is the opposite. I don't believe in communism because it suppresses humans natural rights. China's people should have the right as humans of this earth to have freedom of speech and others freedoms attched to that.

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  22. Having the right to privacy is what we believe in the United States, and it is also written in the U.S constitution, unlike china whose communist government does not give people the right to privacy. This basically means that google censorship in china alludes to that of their government. It is a big issue, and the risk is dangerous, I believe that no one should have the right to spam on other people, it is just not the right thing to do. I believe that chinese people will eventually understand that spamming on other people as well as hacking their account is not rightful, even if their government does not give them the right to do so. (Let's Go Google Let's GO0 x2)

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  23. The censorship issue in china has been escalating as the year go by. After reading several articles on the subject i can see that the Chinese government is out of control. Prevent individual people from communicating is completely insane, and them justifying it by saying it's nessesary for the protection of the public is just plane lunatic. The shut down of an online "website for pornography" is a public issue. regulating a TV network is a public issue but stopping text messages from being received has nothing to do with the public!!! It is a private conversation. Communism has always been looked down upon by the US and other democratic nations because it is not uncommon for those nations to deprive their people from speaking out or fighting back. For a government to be Efficient in terms of protecting and satisfying its people it most listen to them and encourage or at least allow them to have their own ideas.

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  24. After reading and annotating the articles about the censorship and restriction on the internet, and text message it can be seen that it really affects the people's freedom of speech and rights in general because people can't have privacy or do whatever they want with their own lives. Chine's citizens are concern about this issue because it's no fair to be living in a country that take decision for yourself. But, the thing is that they can't do nothing about it because China as a communist country, citizens have to do what the government said even though they are not agree with it's how communist work. That's why as citizen of the U.S I'm against communist because it affects our lives and freedom of speech in the way that we are not able to express or live our lives the way we want.

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  25. Life would be boring if people weren't able to express there thoughts. Taking away freedom of speech from anyone not just citizens is a form of oppression. It affects there lives a lot mainly because it makes them feel inferior. In my opinion this is unjust but then again China is run by a communist government. If google really leaves China, it would cause more chaos then there already is. So basically taking away someones freedom of speech is not a good idea.

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  26. To be restricted is like saying we have no freedom. Many people value their freedom just as the next person. The topic of "censorship" in China is a big deal. Gmail was created in order to have so type of privacy and be protected on the internet from others but, if the Chinese government takes charge of people's email then why have one in the first place? To a certain extent "censorship" can be allowed in other countries depending on how they run their government. But even so I say that China went to far in trying to track down people. Emails are suppose to be private no matter who they belong to or what country they are in. Everyone has rights as human beings then rights as a nation. Censoring certain things until someone gets older is one thing but invade someone's privacy is never a good no matter if its for the greater good. I believe precautions should be made but never invade someone's life just on speculations. Even criminals have rights even if they are small but they are never censored. People's privacy is something to be valued not "censored" for the greater good even if would help other only precautions makes things better.

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  27. When it comes to things being censored in China it has gotten a little outrageous. Every way of communication is being invaded by their government. There should be a line between public and private living. Not only is the censorship in China interfering with the workings of the public life but some people feel like they can’t even live their lives without someone overseeing what they do. It seems as if censorship in China is going to take this to another level. The people will start to question and wonder why they should have anything to do with it, which may start more controversy. Because, some people outside of the country are messing with the system why do the people of the country have to be bothered? Now that China has gone this far I don’t think that it will do anything thing, but get worse unless someone makes a decision or a drastic change to what is taking place right now. I will also like to say that freedom has a lot to do with where you live and since China is a communist country then the people have to expect the unexpected. Though on a personal level I would feel like my country runs my life and that is just not the way to live.

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  28. well in my opinion i think that both countries should unite because they are they one with good ideas and and help our world to become better. People in China shouldn’t have any censorship because they takes a big part of people’s lives. Censorship of Google should be removed and the people from China should have the chance to know about their government and things that are going on in their country. everybody should have a personal opinions and have a privet in touch on the online.

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  29. i believe that its really affect the socities living status because they aint gonna have enough understanding about the rest of the world if the government control everything. which it applies to the bad part of communism because it shows that there is no such a thing called freedom of speech in communist countries. also its a big issue because the governement is taking over on the people of china and that separet china nd the people of china from this world. and i believe that its really affect the freedom of speech and living things because they have to do what the government says or choice not to do and accept the sequence that comes after that. also everybody have the right to do what ever they want so the government is now going to far and that might cause or brought holicast again.

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  30. After reading this article it made me reflect on how fortunate we are to be in the united states. but I also believe other countries run different than us and should be respected as they do to us. The censorship thats taking place in china is part of a society thats different from us and even though it sounds bad, someitmes we have to admit and live with how others want to manage their goverment in acertain way like china is doing with google.

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  31. The ability of not having a voice takes away the person's individuality. If person right to free speech is taken away then that takes the voice away from a person that should be able to express themselves.In the article "China to scan Text Messages to Spot 'Unhealthy Content'" it says "text messages would automatically be scanned for 'key words' provided by police." China consists of a Communist party, therefore, they already have minimum rights. Remember, that being in a communist society everything is shared amongst one another. These Chinese citizens don't have an option, but to follow what the government rules. I believe China should focus on their country's welfare, the economy, or unemployment. The government of China is overreacting, people are longer able to access onto Google . This is unreasonable to me, because I live in a country in which citizens are protected by a Constitution.

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  32. China is showing that there is nothing like freedom of speech and if china thinks that looking at someone else privacy is normal, then why do we call it privacy anyway? I believe these people do not understand that their country is way different than ours. I mean, whats in it for them? Why in the world would they have any interests in checking out people messages in Google? China's censorship issue is really getting out of hand. I mean, the whole communist/ government thing is all bolted-up. if they keep on doing that, its like if they are taking people's rights.

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  33. censorship has been an issue in the united states for many years. many people believe that censoring certain websites from school as well as public places such as the library is a good idea and others completely disagree. this relates to the issue of china in whcih the internet has been censored. in other words people in china are not allowed to use google, along with many other websites. The government has blocked thousands of websites including facebook, youtube and twitter. Not only have they blocked citizens from the internet but text messages and emails as well.Unlike the U.S china runs on a communist government meaning they dont have a voice because the government already controls the economy and what people can or cannot do. Since we live in a country where freedom of speech is legal we have the option to protest and say what we want to say. china however dont have a bill of rights like we do and therefore it runs differently. however censoring the internet from many of its chinese citizens is like taking their freedom of speech away.

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  34. censorship or the restriction of free speech affects the live and freedom of citizens, if the goverment plase these two things in the country then all citizens will live their life with fear. fear of being punished by something they say or tesxt that the goverment dont find apropiate to say or text for exple if they say "the president is a mediocre or a word that ralates to terorism" people will be afread of using certain words. it also will affect in the way of people express their self. poents and all kind of writers wont be able to say what they want or how they feel about something.

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  35. In the article about censorship in China it seems that they don’t have the freedom the right to think and research what they want to do. It is understood that they want to protect its people from any harm but they are doing it to the extreme. For example a situation that happened to a television reporter in Beijing, “E-mail messages in the reporter’s account were being forwarded to an e-mail address that the reporter did not recognize.” This is a violation here in the United States and it wrong to do this. One thing is protection and another is just government trying to take control of our life.

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